Sergej Milinkovic-Savic of Lazio has been linked to Manchester United so frequently that he is in risk of emerging as the next Wesley Sneijder.

However, with Old Trafford in desperate need of midfield reinforcements this summer and the Serbian entering the final year of his contract, all the pieces may finally fall into place for the ideal transfer to happen.

For Ten Hag’s United, Milinkovic-Savic has the ideal profile. United would be receiving a flexible, strong pass-master who has constantly been regarded among the top midfielders in Italy, capable of playing across the midfield and in the number 10 position.

This week, the 28-year-old sparked rumors about his future by stating (via Calciomercato.com), “Renewal? It depends on the outcomes on the field, but we’ll discuss it at the end of the year. That might imply that he will extend if Lazio achieves the anticipated Champions League qualification, but it might also imply that the appeal of alternative destinations may be determined by their performance on the field.

In the interview, there were clues that a shift might be in the works. I’ve been here for eight years, and now I feel like a leader, but it depends on my colleagues, he added. They need to follow me or we won’t get anywhere.

Football players who talk about how long they’ve been at a club usually have itchy feet. And it is clear he is thinking about his future when he doubts the dedication of his teammates.

It is a truism that the Rome club has little chance of winning the Champions League, and even the Scudetto is challenging. The only two times the club has ever won Serie A were in 1974 and 2000.

Similar to Harry Kane, Milinkovic-Savic is currently at the top of his game, wants to win a trophy at some point in his career, and is aware that it is unlikely to happen if he stays where he is.

“SMS” would be a top-notch addition to Ten Hag’s team if he were still in the prime of his playing career and could be had for somewhere between €70 and €80 million. Frenkie de Jong, the manager’s preferred midfielder, is not a like-for-like replacement for him, but he is undoubtedly a more complete player who is physically stronger, more aggressive, and far more versatile.

The Old Lady’s 15-point fine makes them almost certain to miss out on the Champions League, and their internal strife has rendered them toxic as a potential transfer destination, so United won’t face the same level of competition from Juventus as they have in the past, should the opportunity arise.

However, the Turin side’s prior success in reaching an agreement with the star’s representatives indicates that they are amenable to a move on his part.

Calciomercato.com reports that the Juventus club and his agents “had discovered much more than a basic agreement in principle on multiple occasions, even last season. Milinkovic’s entourage was confident they could move him for a much lower price than what they had hoped for for years, and close to or very close to €100 million, but it wasn’t enough. Juve, on the other hand, preferred to bet everything on the return of Paul Pogba rather than begin a difficult negotiation with [Lazio president] Lotito.

That €100m number would now, presumably, have to be replaced by one that is much lower given that another year of his playing career has been consumed and that he is now one year closer to his contract expiration.